Hebrew University to introduce Telugu courses from this year

SCRIPTING PROGRESS: Telugu University Vice-Chancellor Avula Manjulatha addressing the delegates at the All-India Telugu Conference in Chennai on Saturday.

CHENNAI: Hebrew University based in Tel Aviv, Israel, plans to introduce a Telugu course from the coming academic year, according to Avula Manjulatha, Vice-Chancellor of Potti Sriramulu Telugu University.

Addressing the delegates on the second day of the All-India Telugu Conference here on Saturday, she said this decision was a culmination of months of efforts by the Telugu University. She said there were plans to introduce Telugu courses or establish Telugu chairs in universities across the globe.

Ms. Manjulatha said the Hebrew University had sent a communication recently indicating its willingness to start the Telugu course but with the condition that the expenses for the first five years, should be met by Andhra Pradesh.

She assured delegates from States other than Andhra Pradesh that the university would discuss the modalities of establishing a united forum to promote Telugu culture and art in their States. She also offered to look into the demand for releasing Telugu teaching books in simpler language for their benefit.

Delegates from Mauritius, Malaysia, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Orissa, New Delhi, Jharkhand, West Bengal and Karnataka explained the need to impress upon States bordering Andhra Pradesh to honour their commitment to preserve and promote Telugu language and culture.

Malaysian Telugu Association President, Atchayya Kumar, complained that Tamils in his country were systematically harming the interests of Telugu language. Even in temples, priests were being forced to avoid use of Telugu in the rituals, he alleged.

Memorial award

Andhra Pradesh Minister for Animal Husbandry Mandali Buddha Prasad lamented the neglect of Telugu in the State itself. Announcing the institution of Mandali Venkata Krishna Rao memorial award in name of his father to Telugus promoting the language and culture, he said the first award would go to M. Sominayudu of Malaysia.

C. Narayana Reddy, Jnanpeeth Awardee, urged the Government to act quickly in talking to the neighbouring Governments to protect the interests of Telugus.

A `kavi sammelanam' followed in which a two-minute silence was observed in memory of Gunturu Seshendra Sharma, Mallampalli Sharabhaiah and Vasireddy Seeta Devi, who passed away recently.